Device for protecting ships against submarine explosions.



G. E. ELIA.

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING SHIPS AGAINST` SUBIVIARINE EXPLOSIONS., APPLICATION FILED IAII. I5, I9I7.

1,246,973. f Datemeu IIov. 13, 1917.

I To a/.ZZ 'whom 'it may concern.'

Umm matera @FFME n GIOVANNI EMANUELE ELIA., OF NEW YORK, N.

DEVICE son rzaorac'rlNG sHrrs AGAINST sUBMAmNu a'xrriosroirs Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 15, 1917. Serial No. 142,443.

This invention relates to a devicefor pro- 4 tecting ships against submarine explosions. A11 object of the invention resides in the provision ofv a device which is buoyant and will conform to the sides of a ship and which is formed of such material that the shock of the explosion will be taken up entirely thereby.

-A further object of the invention resides in so constructing the device` that it will ioat, and when engaged by vthe bow of a ship, will automatically, duringvthe advance of the ship, conform to and lie against the sides thereof continuously throughout their extent. 1

With these and other objects in view, such as will appear as my description progresses, my invention comprises a combination and -arrangement of parts as set forthin and falling within the scope of the appended claims. f

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of aship showing a device' constructed in accordance with my invention in place thereon; 4

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. Y 3 is a transverse sectional view through the ship showing the relation of the protective device to the sides thereof; and

Fi 4 is a similar view disclosing a modified orm Aof the device.

In the drawing, I have illustrated, conventionally, a ship 1 to which my device is applied. The protective device 2 extends continuously around the sides of the ship from bow 'to stern, and comprises a plurality of cables, 3, of manila. or similar material, each of which is equal in length to the entire length of the rotective device and which are arranged side by side, as illustrated in 3 of the drawing. These Manila cables are bound together by encircling linen or steel cables 4, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, so that they form, in

elect, an elongated bundle. .The cross-sec-v tional .shape of this bundle is such that it will -lie against the sides of the ship andextend at least tothe bottom thereof and a Patented Nov. 13,1917.

suitable distance above the water line. The

densityof the protective device is preferably approximately the same as that of the water so that when a portion thereoi` is blown away by a submarine explosion, the position of the device in the water will not be altered as the water rushes into such portion.

lof flotation, so that the device will iioat and.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, I have illusl trated. a somewhat modied form ofthe device, which, instead of being completelyr formed ci Manila cables bound together, is

provided with one or more wooden Jframes @which are disposed within the device lon- 'gitud1nally, but terminate so as to permit the flexing of the device midway between its ends, that is,at the point where it engages the bow of the ship'. These frames are surrounded by Manila cables 6 arranged ina manner similar to that in which those in the form shown in Fig. 3 are arranged, and these Manila cables are bound together in a similar manner by encircling'linen or cables 7 v e 4 The device is used in substantially th same manner as the protective device described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 138,408, filed December 22, 1916, that is to say, that it floats in the. water with its long dimension arranged vertically, and so that whenA it is desired to envelop the ship therewith, it is only necessary for the ship to advance until they bow engages the device midway between its ends and to continue this advance until the Adevice is swung into contact with theV sides of the ship in such a position as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. It is to be understood that this protective device may also be towed in the manner described in the copending application referred to, by the ship itself or by a plurality of paddle tug boats, in which latter event, it will, in conjunction with a' plurality of similar devices, inclose .and protect an area in which otherwise unprotected shipsmay be operated.-

It will be obvious that this device may be maintained upon the ship in rough weather, because of the fact that it is formed of Manila cables or other soft materials, and is, therefore, liexible in all directions, so that it will rise and fall under the action of the waves. Because of this fact, the device is particularly advantageous and will be eX- ceedingly convenient to use.

What I claim is 1. A protective device for ships consisting of a continuous iibrous element adapted to envelop the sides of a ship, and binding elements encircling the same.

2. A protective device for ships consisting of a floatable member comprising a plurality of individual librous elements arranged side by side and extending continuously from end to end of the device, and means for binding said elements together.

3. A protective device for ships consisting of an elongated member including a plurality of individual fibrous elements arranged side by side, and cables binding said elements together.

4. A protective device for ships consisting of a lieXible member including a plurality of -individual fibrous elements arranged in superimposed relation7 and binding cables passing around and binding said elements together.

5. he combination with a ship, of a protective device therefor enveloping the sides thereof, which device consists of a plurality of flexble fibrous elements arranged side by side and continuous from end to Yend of the device, and cables binding said elements together. v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.v

vGIOVANNI EMANUELE ELIA. 

